At the end of 1963, Andy moved into a loft on East 47th Street that would become known as "The Factory." The floor plan was completely open and filled with musical equipment, photographs, paintings, and cans of film. The furniture mostly came from the Salvation Army. The famous red velvet couch that had been found on the street by Billy Name was an instant attraction, and eventually became a focal point in The Factory and on some of Warhol's films. Some referred to The Factory as a glamorous clubhouse and the people inside would do anything to get Andy's attention.

The central characters at The Factory changed as frequently as Andy's whims and affections. Many of the people who became Warhol's superstars were simply people who went to The Factory and never left. Some of the people were considered to be talented or crazy or bizarre. One such...